For many years Fred J. Eaglesmith was Ontario's best-kept secret. A long-time veteran of the folk-music circuit and a former farmer from southern Ontario who was born and raised in a large farm family, Eaglesmith writes profound and often dark lyrics about country life. The deceptively simple lyrics are set against sparse, effective instrumental backups. More recently, Eaglesmith's John Prine style has attracted a large fan base in the US country market. Because Americans had trouble with the J. in his name (frequently calling him Fred Jeaglesmith), Eaglesmith has dropped the J. from his albums and is now recording as Fred Eaglesmith. Eaglesmith received a Mac Beattie Porcupine Award in 1995.

The earliest Eaglesmith album available on compact disc is Things Is Changin' (1993), packaged in a neat wooden box guaranteed not to fit on your CD rack. (Note: in later distributions the wooden box was dropped in favour of standard packaging. If you have a hand-made wooden-box it is now a collector's item). Packaging issues aside, the album is a superb collection of Eaglesmith songs including "Things Is Changin'," "Harold Wilson," "Joe," and "Rodeo Rose."

From the Paradise Hotel (1994) was recorded live at an Eaglesmith concert in Birmingham, Michigan. While there's some overlap in material between this album and Things Is Changin', the tempo is faster on Paradise and there are vintage songs such as "Yellow Barley Straw" and "Thirty Years of Farmin"' that have, until now, only been available on Eaglesmith's cassette and LP recordings. The Flying Squirrels on this album are Ralph Schipper and Willie P. Bennett, with Lynn Miles adding vocals on "Harold Wilson."

Eaglesmith's first US-label recording, Drive-In Movie (1996), marks a new sound and a shift in direction. More electric, upbeat, and contemporary, the songs are pop oriented with touches of rockabilly. While the older style sneaks out in "White Rose"--a song about the closing of a rural gas station--songs such as "I like Trains," "49 Tons," and "Wilder than Her" stand up as well as anything on pop radio. Produced by Scott Merritt, the album features a large number of studio musicians, including The Flying Squirrels and guest vocalist Lynn Miles. One of Eaglesmith's best.

Lipstick Lies & Gasoline (1997) continues Eaglesmith's move into pop music. The patented Eaglesmith car songs are in abundance: "105," "Pontiac," and "Water in the Fuel." On this album Eaglesmith even turns out two purely Nashville pieces: "Drinking Too Much" and "Angel of the Lord." Overall the album sounds strained, as if Eaglesmith is trying hard to impress his American audience with his countryness.

Things Is Changin' *
1993 Sweetwater Music (no catalogue number)

Sharecroppin'; Things Is Changin'; Harold Wilson; White Ash and Black Ash; Joe; Carmelita; Summerlea; Rough Edges; Reprise; Brand New Boy; Cryin' Yet; Rodeo Rose 45:56

From the Paradise Motel
1994 Barbed Wire (BWR2001)

Yellow Barley Straw; Thirty Years of Farmin'; The Highway Callin'; I'm Just Dreamin'; Sweaburg General Store; Sunflowers; Little Buffalo; Summerlea; My Last Six Dollars; Rough Edges; Sharecroppin'; The Mindless Side of Town; Rodeo Rose; Go Out and Plough; Jericho; Harold Wilson 69:16

Drive-In Movie *
1996 Vertical (VER 4218-2)

I Like Trains; 49 Tons; Here's the Keys; Crashin' & Burnin'; Wilder Than Her; White Rose; Good Enough; Soda Machine; Freight Train; 49 Tons (reprise); Drive-In Movie 35:49

Lipstick Lies & Gasoline
1997 Razor & Tie (RT 2831-2)

Seven Shells; 105; Thinking; Bell; Drinking Too Much; Pontiac; Spookin' the Horses; Time to Get a Gun; Bell (Reprise); Alcohol & Pills; Angel of the Lord; Seven Shells (Crash); Water in the Fuel 44:14